Growing up in the US makes my knowledge of the Getter Robo franchise limited. My only real knowledge of Getter Robo is Getter Robo G which was brought to us in the USA as Starvengers, Part of Jim Terry's Force Five TV series.

From what I can gather, over the years, Getter Robo has had many re-incarnations. So many that I get quite lost wondering how everything may connect or even if the stories do connect. With all that being said, I will just talk about the toy I am reviewing today and not its background.

So, sparing you any further verbal diarrhea, I present to you Aoshima's New Getter Robo (weathered version) which incidentally was provided by Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan

Lets start off with the packaging. Aoshima always seems to hit the mark with the way they present their toys. I don't care which figure you buy from them, you can always expect great artwork or illustration of the figure within the box in a cool dynamic pose. As you can see below, New Getter Robo is not exception.

Upon opening the box, you are greeted with every chogokin collectors dream... A big chunk of metal entombed in Styrofoam. Aoshima was even kind enough to include tissue wrapping the figure. I guess the tissue paper is for those of us who may get to excited opening the box.

So, enough with the jokes, what's inside the box already!

New Getter Robo

One pair of weapon holding fists

Open right hand (detailed backhand)

Open right hand (detailed palm)

Three pairs of back wings (1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended

Two axes

You can clearly see in the photo below, all that is mentioned above. This version of New Getter Robo is called a weathered version. This basically means that the paint has shading added to give it a more realistic appearance. Let me just say that the paint job is stunning. The figure stands approximately 7.5" tall and is comprised of almost 90% die-cast metal as well as other quality materials. The large die-cast content really gives the figure nice heft and quality feel when you hold it. Something about a toy that weighs over 1 pound (1 lb. 3 oz. to be exact) really makes you feel like your money was well spent.

You can see below that this figure has great articulation allowing it to do some cool poses with the 2 axes that are included. Clicking ratchet joints are used in combination with tight friction joints. The combination of the 2 mentioned joints enable you to pose the figure as you choose.

Here is where the toy kinda fails for me. I really wish that some caps were included for the screw holes. I think the exposed screw holes really take away from the realistic look of the figure.

Enough about the exposed screw hole shortcoming. Heck, just turn the figure around and look at it from the front. You have to admit, this New Getter Robo looks quite fierce wielding his spiked battle ax. Also note the added shading on the axes adding to the weathered look.

The detailing on this figure is really nice, look at the translucent green chest panels that reveal the mechanics underneath. Note how well the green on the face matches up with the translucent chest pieces.

Be careful, those forearm spikes are kinda sharp! You don't want to let the young-ins to get a hold of this one folks!

Moving right along, yes I am turning the figure around again. I am doing this to show the 3 sets of wings that I mentioned earlier in the review. The pictures go like this, 1 set of small/closed, 1 set of open/down, 1 set open/extended. The open extended wings are my personal favorite.

Here is something that kinda bothers me a little. Look at how odd the elbow joints appear when the arms are bent. Most Aoshima figures have this style elbow joint. I really wish Aoshima would come up with a more aesthetically pleasing joint.

Joint aesthetics aside, New Getter Robo is very well balanced figure. Just check out the photo below of him unleashing an ass whipping on CollectionDX's Nor-Easter Vegitius. No tricks, New Getter Robo is actually holding that pose!

So in conclusion, I love this toy. It is a big sturdy hunk of die-cast Chogokin goodness! Aoshima has once again produced a quality modern chogokin. The formula is simple, great materials and craftsmanship in conjunction with a uncomplicated design is always going to be a winner in my book. You can grab one of these metal beauties at Aoshima's website, Hobby World Japan.

Comments

You know, I think that the regular version of New Getter 1 has a much more noticeable problem with the screwholes than say the black one. It's a shame because this toy looks really nice. Although I need to ask because I can't remember, is this toy able to make a Double Tomahawk?

This latest Getta incarnation I used to enjoy (it's still a nice design)... But what bothers me is I haven't yet seen an Anime follow up that matches "Getta Robo G." I feel like all the new Getta stories kinda suck, Anime & Manga both. I miss the old robot action the latest stuff I've seen is very dark with bad story and off the wall. I grew up with Force 5 maybe that influences my feeling about it. It would be nice to see a retelling of Getta G, pure robot on robot fighting...

It's so damn true. The new Getter cartoons (from Shin Getter Robo/Getter Robo: Armageddon on) have been utterly terrible. I don't really get it. I mean, the Mazinkaiser cartoons were pretty rocking, and while I haven't seen Shin Mazinger, I hear it's pretty great. So...it's possible to make a *good* modern Go Nagai super robot sequel...

We agree the new Getta material sucks. I do like the design of SOC GX-51 Getter Dragon. I agree can't we see a simple, but also well done robot on robot action anime. Why do most Anime mecha shows nowadays have to involve a government type organization to justify pure fantasy robot on robot action. I dunno...

Missed Mazinkaiser maybe I can find it on the web dubbed? "Gaiking: The Legend of Daikumaryu" saw some of it, but I just couldn't get into the whole Mecha with the kid controlling Gaiking thing, maybe that's to appeal to a younger generation? It reminds me of an Evangelion which I feel started a generation of Robots controlled by 15yr olds... I wish they had done it like the original series more, a team in jump suits who were adults. Maybe another remake will happen soon. I loved the Robot designs though...

I am by no means an anime expert or historian but the last full series I watched was Zambot 3 and the main pilot of that was a kid, too. So I'm not sure if Evangelion really "started" that. Maybe popularized it, though..

"This must be settled the way nature intended....with a vicious, bloody fight!"
Onyx Blackman
Principal, Flatpoint High

It's true that Gaiking: The Legend of Daikumaryu was aimed at little kids...but so were the awesome shows we grew up on! ;)

Granted, in the shows we watched, the heroes were all adults, but if you watch Gaiking: TLoD all the way through, you won't regret it! I thought the kids-as-main-characters thing was kinda meh at first, but they proved never actually annoying...and eventually grew on me well enough. And the action towards the end of the show is SO worth it!

And just *forget* about comparing it to Evangelion. It's not apples and oranges. It's apples and carburetors.

Anyway, I don't mean to harp on and on about Gaiking. All I'm saying is that the art of making a fantastic super robot cartoon in this day and age isn't dead.

Well, Gundam was the first real robot show period, but obviously kids were controlling robots from the very beginning. Adults controlling robots is the exception, not the norm. Hikaru in Macross is 16.

Your both right I'm guessing. But was Gundam really the first robot show with kids (14+ and 18+ are teenagers but different to me? What do you think of the latest Gundam series?... besides the awesome Mecha designs don't you feel like there all the same kinda story? CIVIL WAR AGAIN! FACTION against FACTION! I appreciate Gundam design and it is a cult classic to the Japanese, but it's always the same rehashing of the same plot. I would like to see a Gundam series that involves an alien influence not of Earth or a space colony. I'm not a huge Gundam fan so I don't know the whole history except for what I've seen thus far. Favorite Gundam: Gundam Astray Blue Frame. I know you'll debate this...

I am pretty sure Tetsujin 28 was the first Japanese giant robot anime with a child controlling a robot. Clearly this predates Gundam. Gundam, however is the first REAL ROBOT show. Real robot is a specific type of robot show where the robots are mass produced tools, often destroyed the way jets or tanks are in the real world. Shows like Macross also fall into this category. Getter Robo and Mazinger Z and its ilk are super robots -- unrelastic, surpremely powerful, unique superhero robots.

If you want a DIFFERENT Gundam that doesn't have the same feel and story, look no further than G Gundam.

Gaiking rules! I'll watch it from the beginning give it a shot. I have EVA on the brain because I'm a huge fan. I agree the art isn't dead, but did you care for Aquarion or Rahxephon (I never got past the first 4 episodes of both series?) I feel like both stories tried to pick-up on this strangeness and mystery that really wasn't there or interesting. Two recent fantastic series that worked for me over the last few years are DieBuster & Gurren Lagann. If you haven't seen them please watch.

Ah, see I totally agree about Aquarion...I think I watched the first episode or two and completely lost interest! I think they're totally trying to ape the sci-fi side of EVA: some ineffable mystery and some inscrutible plot...that the audience ultimately couldn't give a crap about!

I'll most likely check out Gurren Lagann at some point. I probably would've seen it already by now, but from what I gather, there's a lot of fanservice in the show...and I've TOTALLY lost patience with that in anime. I mean, I have lots of adult female friends who are interested in the hobby...and it's one thing to be labeled as sexist, but a whole other thing to be lumped in with the freaks who watch cartoon porn, etc...

Hey, glad to hear your feelings on Aquarion... totally lost on that series too. The animation in these shows can't be beat but the stories suck! About Gurren Lagann, it's not so much fan service as you might think, it has it's moments but what recent Anime series doesn't exploit. Really it's not bad. What stands out is the action, which might be up your alley, because it has a classic Mecha show feel if you know what I mean and a great story. Season 2, is excellent and the battle scenes can't be beat. It's no cartoon porn from whatever you heard. Yoko has big boobs and carries a long rifle but in the end she's reserved. The character mature in this series that's why I enjoyed it.

I think I can live with Aquarion over Evangelion any day. Aquarion doesn't have a stupid, overly-whiney, "OMG I want to kill myself" young protagonists like Shinji. Also, I like Commander Fudor waaaay more than an cold-hearted, obssessive sociopath like Commander Ikari.

Cmdr. Fudor might've been an a*****e, but he's a charming, fun-loving a*****e.

Granted Aquarion has those weird, spiritual orgasms from those superpowered pilots when they combine the giant robot. It's funny as hell though, but I rather have the weird spiritual sex in Aquarion than the unholy mind-body 'double-rape' in EVA anyway.

Man, I would love to hear DAP-DX take a hit on Aquarion. It'll be hilariously wild.

See, I just thought Aquarion was boring. Plain and simple. For some strange reason, I felt compelled to stick with Evangelion, and I thought the payoff was good. I just didn't care about the Angels and the dumb, generic anime plot (again, ineffable and inscrutible), so I was just interested in the deconstruction of the characters, whom I found refreshingly realistic.

my sincere apologies for the language. I thought it was okay to say a****** here. I'll be careful next time.

Going back to the EVA show...don't get me wrong, I like the show for it's avant-garde style of cereberal storytelling,I dig the Angel aliens for their abstract appearance & I'm all about character depth, but some of it is b***s***. Like the Christian seimotics that were heavily deployed in the show, some of the protagonists were just waaay over-the-top annoying & pathetic. I couldn't stand Shinji period. I thought Mr. Anno overcooked this character to a chargrilled, raisin-nut bran. So overcooked, it's torture. Nor do I like his sociopathic a****** of a father of whom IMO suspicously had pedophillic feelings for Rei and that's as far as I'm going to go from there.

Rei?...I don't understand why every Otaku has the hots for this hollow-kid. There's no point on hitting a dead-hoe's-husk that's not there.

To be fair: Despite my feelings for Shinji, I kind of like EVA's TV show ending more than The End of EVA movie b/c of it's postmodern expression, but both of those versions could never beat Ideon's ending.

I've felt that Aquarion was just right for my comfort b/c it's like EVA with charm and fun In other words, I would put it as Evangelion's Yin twin brother. I really dig Cmdr. Fudor. He's one of the most charming a****** that I've ever seen so far. & Apollo? Whew!! There's a protagonist who makes me grateful to breathe Earth's fresh air.

I'm rather late here, but have you seen Shin vs. Neo Getter Robo, Sanjeev? It's absolutely superb fun, not dogged down in the bizarre GRIMDARKNESS of some of the others.

Then again, I liked Aquarion because it was so damn stupid. I watched the first few episodes in a stream where we all mocked it completely, MST3K-style, and it ended up being kinda fun. If you view the show as a parody of the cliches, it's great.

Also, Getter Robo has kinda always been like the Armageddon/New eras, just only in the manga. The various early anime really bastardise (that's allowed, right?) the plot.
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Humanity calls out to me, Kamen Rider Stronger, etc.

R78, I think if you can't stand Shinji, then you're pretty much destined not to like EVA. I didn't mind him as I saw him as a pretty innocent kid who just wanted to be normal and all that. As such, I really enjoyed the complete deconstruction of his character. But I can totally see that if you couldn't sympathize with him, the point of the show would be lost (well, I'm sure you got the point of the show...but I'd imagine it didn't really appeal to you if you didn't like the main character).

But, yeah, I thought Shinji's father was a bit *too* aloof...though I suppose it was an appropriate critique of a lot of disconnected parents in Japanese culture. The Christian stuff, the hinted-at pedophilic stuff...even the Angels, themselves...I thought were ALL smokescreens. In the final analysis, I don't even think Anno meant for those things to matter. The only thing that mattered was the deconstruction of Shinji. Everything else was fluff to give the character some context to discover himself. Well...whatever.

As for Aquarion, you actually make me wanna watch it! But then...I remember how the first couple episodes were...and I'd just rather kick back to a b-movie I've seen a thousand times!

Rankarana, I saw Shin vs. Neo (getting on topic)...I remember it being okay, but not super entertaining. It was short (only 4 episodes, right?)...and I wasn't impressed by the animation quality. The little super robot animations between each episode were cool, though (where all the Go Nagai robots team up)!

I still think that first Mazinkaiser OVA and the recentish Gaiking cartoon were the best blend of action, plot, and over-the-top characters. Will check out Gurren Lagann soon...